The stories behind the buildings, statues and other points of interest that make Manhattan fascinating.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The 1897 Spingler Building -- Nos 5-9 Union Square West

"Spingler Building" is announced above the polished granite columns of the entrance -- photo by Alice Lum

In 1778 German-born Henry Spingler purchased the sprawling Dutch
farm that included the area which would later become Union Square.Over a century later The New York Times would
recall that Springler “bought the farm direct from the first owner of the land,
who, frightened at the stirring events of the Revolution and lacking faith in
the Government of the then new United States, decamped back to his native
country, Holland.”

The article got the facts slightly wrong, if a bit more
romantic in the telling.The first owner
was, indeed, of Dutch descent.Elias
Brevoort and his wife, Leah, sold the property to John Smith, “a leather
dresser,” according to old documents, for 340 pounds.Upon his death, his executors sold the land
on February 29, 1788 to “Henry Spingler of the city, shopkeeper,” for 950
pounds.

As decades passed the land came into the
hands of the Van Buren family through marriage.What had
been farmland in 1778 was transformed into Union Square in 1832; and by 1845
the surrounding streets were paved, landscaping had been completed, and fine
homes rose around the park.

But as rapidly as farmland became residential; residential
became commercial.As the turn of the
century approached, wealthy homeowners had abandoned the square and handsome
upscale business buildings replaced their brick mansions.With a nod to Henry Springler, the large
structure that replaced three houses at Nos. 5 through 9 Union Square was named
the Springler Building.Among its
tenants was the Estey Organ firm.A
devastating conflagration destroyed the building in 1895.

The potentially-lucrative site would not sit vacant for
long.On July 18, 1895 The New York
Times reported on the planned replacement.“Messrs. James L. Libby & Son have leased from the Van Buren estate
5 to 9 Union Square and the connecting property, 20 East Fifteenth Street…The
purchasers will begin at once the erection of an eight-story fireproof building
of limestone, buff brick and terra cotta front.”

Four days later work started on clearing the burned-out
rubble in preparation for construction.The Times anticipated that the “new building will be ready for occupancy
on May 1, 1896” and like its predecessor “will be called the Spingler Building.”

James L. Libby & Son commissioned firm of W. H. Hume
& Son to design their new edifice.The L-shaped plot enabled the architects to place the trucking
facilities on the 15th Street side; leaving the Union Square
frontage unsullied.

The initial hopes for completion by May 1, 1896 turned out
to be a bit optimistic.The building was
finally ready for occupancy the week of March 7, 1897 when James L. Libby &
Son advertised “Elevator running this week.”The owners boasted the “finest stores and lightest lofts in the city.”

A decorative parapet announces the building's name in 1897 -- the New-York Tribune, March 7, 1897 (copyright expired)

The exclusive retail neighborhood of Union Square was
reflected in the announcement of the Springler Building’s major street level
tenant.In August 1897 The American
Hatter reported “Cluett, Coon & Co., now occupy their new quarters, 5, 7,
and 9 Union Square West, in the handsome new fireproof building adjoining
Tiffany & Co.This is one of the
finest locations in the city of New York, facing as it does the beautiful Union
Square.Their showroom and offices are
among the most attractive to be found.The interior is richly furnished, and finished in natural oak
throughout, and is a model of neatness and convenience.”

Cluett, Coon & Co. was one of the nation’s leading men’s
furnishers—manufacturing and selling shirts, collars, and cuffs.By 1897 the firm name became Cluett, Peabody
& Co.Men’s fashions, just as much
as ladies’, changed with the season and the well-dressed gentleman did well to
keep up with modifications in collar height, tie and lapel width, and similar
wardrobe details.

photo by Alice Lum

On March 24, 1901 Cluett, Peabody & Co. instructed the
readers of the New-York Tribune on “correct collars for men.”Using two of its latest styles as acceptable examples
it said “The tendency this season is toward less extravagant height than has
been popular, the Nistoga being three inches in front and the Arcassa two and
three-quarters inches.

“For day wear, with stiff bosomed shirts, the proper thing
is the tab collar with wings.For neglige
shirts the collar should have a wide fold, with either square or round
corners.Shirts invariably have pleated
bosoms, whether soft or laundered, and the attached cuff, with square corners,
is somewhat narrower than last season.”

In order to guarantee that a gentleman was property
outfitted, the Tribune advised that “Cluett, Peabody & Co. have just issued
a dainty booklet, sent on application, of the new things for spring and summer
wear, with a resume of correct styles for all occasions.”

In the years just prior to World War I the parapet had already disappeared -- photograph by Byron Company, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult_VPage&VBID=24UAYWEK9PB2&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=915

Meanwhile, the upper floors of the Springler Building filled
with light manufacturing and office tenants.In 1901 Mark Aronson, maker of cloaks and suits, employed 100 workers—an
even mix of 50 males and 50 females—each of whom worked 51 and a half hours per
week.Among those leasing office space
in 1906 was Henry Hart who operated his Metropolitan Life Insurance business
here.

Aronson’s presence in the building reflected the encroachment
of the millinery and apparel district into Union Square as the exclusive
retailers continued their march northward along Fifth Avenue.Apparel-related firms like the London Button
Company and, later, the Rochester Button Company would occupy the entire
second floor.

A somewhat surprising use of the building came about in 1921
when the Maryland Casualty Company installed a hospital for treatment of
injured compensation claimants.Hospital
Management reported that “The hospital is completely equipped, including X-ray
apparatus and baking and massage machines.A staff of surgeons and nurses will be on duty at all times.”

Horse-drawn and motorized vehicles share Union Square West in front of the Spingler Building on a snowy March 9, 1920 --photograph by Arthur Hosking, from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult_VPage&VBID=24UAYWEK9PB2&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=915

Along with Rochester Button Co. in the 1930s were Premier
Cutlery, Inc. and the retail store of the Surplus Wholesale Corporation.A long-term retailer was Joseph Mayer Co.,
Inc. dealers in “distinctive picture frames.”The firm would remain in the building from the 1940s through the 1960s.

Following the turn of the 21st century nearly
half of the Spingler Building was leased by Rockwell Group, a “cross-disciplinary
architecture and design practice.”The
retail space at street level, where fashionable Edwardian gentlemen shopped for
collars and cuffs, is now home to an expansive Staples store.

photo by Alice Lum

Except for renovations at
street level, W. H. Hume & Son’s light, unpretentious Spingler Building is
nearly unchanged since its opening in 1897.

Your version of the story of the Spingler purchase is an improvement but it is inaccurate.#1 Brevoort was not the 'first owner'. > The land was granted to Simon Congo, freed slave, in the 1640's. The grant was later confirmed when the British Crown took over. Then, it went through other ownerships before the Brevoort family secured title. During British rule the free slaves were driven from NYC due to the institution of laws intended for that purpose.#2 The original John Smith died in 1768. leaving the parcel in trust to his wife and children. His wife died in 1773. It is unclear why the executors sold the estate to Spingler. (print media of the era got the story wrong but their versions of the story persist in the retelling) It is indeed likely that the many heirs (sons) were Loyalists... but they did not have title to the property. James Duane (atty. and mayor of NY) was one of two remaining executors for John Smith, deceased.The correct story is compiled at http://www.geni.com/people/Henry-Spingler/6000000019187979782.The best source material is in Isaac Phelps Stokes' Iconography of Manhattan where the chain of title is documented.Thanks for the work you've done on this topic. I appreciate all the other details you've put together here.